Southwark's adult safeguarding review seeks broader community input to ensure diverse needs are met.
The Health, Adult Social Care and Community Safety Scrutiny Commission met on Wednesday 21 October 2026 to discuss the ongoing Adult Safeguarding Scrutiny Review. Councillor Esmé Dobson, Shadow Deputy Member for Adult Services, provided an update on efforts to gather wider feedback beyond initial surveys.
The review, which continues from the previous administrative year, has broadened its scope to include adults with a variety of needs, such as mental health issues and those experiencing domestic abuse. This expansion was prompted by feedback from a workshop with carers, which indicated a need to encompass a wider range of individuals beyond the initial focus on older people and hoarding. The workshop revealed that carers are supporting individuals with diverse needs, not solely the elderly or those with hoarding issues.
A workshop with carers was held in August, facilitated by Councillor Dobson and the commission chair, which brought together a range of experiences. However, a subsequent survey received only three responses.
To increase engagement and gather more diverse feedback, a proposal was made to expand the survey's reach through social media and to specifically target communities, such as the Latin American community. This could potentially be done through main learning networks. The aim is to finalise the review report in the coming weeks.
Councillor Dobson highlighted the importance of this broader engagement to ensure the review accurately reflects the needs of all vulnerable adults in the borough. The specific finalisation and publication date for the report is not yet provided.